The DC Center for the LGBT Community will be closed during regular business hours today, March 2, 2018 due to the hazardous weather. The DC Center will re open on March 3, 2018 for regular business hours. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

]]>http://thedccenter.org/closing-due-to-weather/feed/0Volunteer Orientationhttp://thedccenter.org/volunteer-orientation/
http://thedccenter.org/volunteer-orientation/#respondThu, 01 Mar 2018 21:22:13 +0000http://thedccenter.org/?p=6377Read moreVolunteer Orientation]]>Back to school and want to connect with the community? New to the area? Have you been meaning to get involved in the LGBT community and haven’t really known how to start? Come learn how to volunteer with The DC Center and its various programs!

Our next orientation will be held on Saturday, March 24th from 12:00PM to 2PM, and will be presented by our Operations Manager, Chris Rothermel. This orientation is required for all new Support Desk Volunteers and encouraged for all current Support Desk Volunteers. Others who currently volunteer or wish to volunteer at The DC Center are also welcome to participate in this training. Registration is required and the training is limited to 20 participants.

To learn more about volunteering at The DC Center please e-mail supportdesk@thedccenter.org

!VOLUNTEER ALERT!: Are you savvy with art, design tools and branding? Do you have a passion for all things intersectional social justice, anti-violence and the LGBTQ community?

If you answered yes to the above, we need your help! The DC Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a grassroots, volunteer-led organization dedicated to theeradication of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, is revamping its look and vision. We’re looking for artsy volunteers passionate about our mission to help us along on this journey.

You’ll work closely with a tight-knit group of volunteers to develop a branding kit, including:

A new logo

A color/font scheme for all of our materials and website

Templates for releases, fact sheets, papers and more

Event-specific branding, such as our quarterly Taking the Stage, Taking a Stand forum

…and more!

We want to hear your ideas. We believe strongly in community collaboration, so you should be willing to work closely with other designers if several people raise their hands for this project. If interested, please send a note to shannon.quinn94@gmail.com with any past work samples and a brief blurb about yourself.

Please note: this is a volunteer position.

*DC AVP always welcomes new volunteers of all talents! If you don’t have design experience but want to hop on board for an exciting time of revisioning and re-energizing, sign up for our Google Group and join us on the fourth Thursday of every month at the DC Center to get involved in our ongoing projects.

I started working at The DC Center because I want to give back to the community that gave back to me. It is always my dream to work at non-profit organization and it is the just beginning of my journey.

What is your music anthem?

Nothing since I am Deaf.

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community?

I love that we are open-minded and unique. We are not afraid to be who we are! It promotes safe space for all the people.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there?

My favorite spot in DC would be Rock Creek since I love nature and hiking. I always go there during Fall to see marvelous leaves color. Other than that, I go to Rock Creek to relieve stress.

What do you think the LGBTQ+ community needs to improve on?

I believe the LGBTQ+ community needs to focus on international equal rights more. Many countries do not have any protections for LGBT community. It is time to pay attention to what is going on around the world for this community and educate people to promote the equal rights. It is extremely important to ensure people are comfortable and safe anywhere in the world since we have only one home – earth.

What is your favorite Queer movie?

The Way He Looks. Too cute.

What has been your favorite moment while working in The DC Center?

I just started this week and my favorite moment is working with my team! They are friendly, and they make efforts to learn a bit of sign language to communicate with me. They are what make my internship great.

What clothing item is a staple in your wardrobe?

I am addicted to jackets! I can’t stop buying them like I am a vacuum sucking up the jackets. Jackets are my LIFE.

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?

Rainbow. Spread the love.

Who do you most look up to in the queer community?

I look up to Miley Cyrus because she encourages people to express themselves and it is okay to change despite what people think. Also, she is a great activist and she does many things to show the care for animals and people. She is just a cool person! I would love to be her best friend.

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to promote your business or product? Do you have trouble marketing your business or product? Look no further! The DC Center’s Professional Partners program is for you! For a small yearly donation of $250 the DC Center provides you with:

A spot in our Professional Partners business card holder wall. We see over 1500 individual visitors every year through our doors.

An ad in our newsletter. No ad? No problem. We will scan your business card! We have over 19,000 members to our weekly newsletter.

A place in our business organization directory on our website. Our website is consistently at the top of Google searches.

Contact Chris at chris@thedccenter today to become a Professional Partner!

WASHINGTON, D.C. — OutWrite, Theatre Prometheus & DC Queer Theatre Fest will present the fruits of the 2017 A Queer One Page Play Competition for one night only upstairs at Ten Tigers Lounge on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018. The six winning plays will be put on alongside a performance by Regie Cabico of his solo show Faith, Hope & Regie.

“We’re so proud to present the work of these talented playwrights to the public,” said OutWrite Community Chair Dave Ring, who organized the competition in conjunction with support from Theatre Prometheus. “We’ve never done anything like this before but the energy around the both competition and the upcoming performance has really been something special. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s been a part of it.”

The plays will be directed by four DC-based directors, selected by Theatre Prometheus and DC Queer Theatre Fest:

Lauren Patton

Caitlin Partridge

Jon Jon Johnson

Aiyi’nah “SimplyNay” Ford

The winning plays were selected by a panel of local judges on the basis of “originality, representation, and relevance to the competition’s LGBTQ focus.”

Outwrite is a program of The DC Center for the LGBT community that celebrates queer literature, authors, writers, and poets. The 2018 festival will kick off on Friday, August 3rd — details TBA! On Saturday, August 4th, there will be a full day of readings, panels, book sales, and exhibitors at the DC Center. To finish the weekend, a number of writing workshops will be held on Sunday, August 5th. We are currently accepting proposals for our upcoming program. Further information here: www.outwritedc.org. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Theatre Prometheus

Founded in 2013, Theatre Prometheus is a not-for-profit organization with a goal of exploring and promoting woman-focused, diverse narratives. We believe in the power of local theater and are committed to providing opportunities to local artists, creating productions both by and for the communities we live in.

About DC Queer Theatre Festival

Founded in 2012, the DC Queer Theatre Festival is dedicated to unleashing and celebrating the underrepresented voices and diversity of our artists, audiences, and area. By featuring new plays with themes relevant to the DC area and local artists with roots in the community, the DC Queer Theatre Festival combines quality theatre with activism and charity. More info at www.dcqueertheatrefest.org

Lissette Miller (they/she) is a queer Black Latinx Miami grrrl living and breathing in DC. She coordinates Center Latinx at the DC LGBT Center, is a yoga student and aspiring teacher, and also works as a Spanish-English interpreter and translator. Lissette aims to cultivate affirming and accessible spaces of joy and healing wherever she is called.

Why did you start working at The DC Center?

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work at my local lgbtq center and coordinate Latinx-centered programming. I’m honored to work alongside dedicated staff and community members who have been organizing queer spaces in DC for decades.

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity? Do you like talking with people and sharing information?

The DC Center is looking for volunteers to regularly staff the frontdesk, answer phone calls, and reply to e-mails on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during business hours from 12pm to 6pm every week. This is a great opportunity for those looking to build administrative skills. If you are interested in volunteering on one of these days, please contact the Office Administrator, Chris at chris@thedccenter.org